Latest news with #FranzWagner
Yahoo
10-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Suns Star Linked to the Magic as a Trade Piece
The Orlando Magic showed a ton of promise during the 2025 NBA playoffs. Even though they didn't have their usual contributors (Mo Wagner and Jalen Suggs were both injured), they still gave the Boston Celtics a challenge. With their performance, many believe they need one more piece to be true contenders in the Eastern Conference. With Paolo Banchero cementing himself as one of the best stars in the league and Franz Wagner coming into his own, the Magic has a bright future. Advertisement Heading into the offseason, there are a few who have started to think about Orlando's upgrade in their roster. Orlando Magic guard Jalen Suggs lays the ball over Phoenix Suns forward Iso Ighodaro in the fourth quarter at Kia Credit: Jeremy Reper-Imagn Images Sam Quinn of CBS Sports suggested trading for a veteran star from the Phoenix Suns. However, Quinn didn't name Kevin Durant or Devin Booker. Instead, he entertained the idea of trading for Bradley Beal. "He obviously has a no-trade clause, but he's a University of Florida alum and he'd be joining a better team, so the Magic could potentially get him to waive it. The obvious benefit here is that he could be had for matching salary and likely nothing else," Quinn wrote. However, trading for the three-time All-Star could be a daunting task, as Quinn pointed out his no-trade clause in his five-year, $250 million deal. Still, his potential addition to the Magic would give the young team another veteran leader and a capable shot creator. Though it will be a risky move. Advertisement Over the past two seasons, Beal has struggled to fit in with Booker and Durant in Phoenix. He hasn't shown the same production he had during his time with the Washington Wizards. Additionally, the star guard has suffered plenty of injuries since getting traded to the Suns. During that span, the one-time All-NBA has averaged 17.6 points, 3.9 rebounds and 4.3 assists. Related: Magic Mentioned as a Potential Trade Destination for 1x Champ
USA Today
02-05-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Franz Wagner thinks the Boston Celtics are hard to defend
Franz Wagner thinks the Boston Celtics are hard to defend Quite a bit of ink was spilled about how good the Orlando Magic defense against the Boston Celtics was in the 2025 NBA Eastern Conference Playoffs first round series, and for good reason. Even though it was not enough to get more than one win off the Celtics, the regular season's No. 2 defense held Boston to its lowest multi-game attempt rate from beyond the arc in 2024-25 to date. But the Celtics were no slouches in that department, either, as Magic star forward Franz Wagner attested after they lost Game 4 to Boston. Even when Orlando held the Celtics scoreless for long stretches, the Magic were never able to build much of a lead (of dig out of holes). The folks behind the "CLNS Media Boston Sports Network" YouTube channel put together a clip of that interview for yo to watch later. Check it out! If you enjoy this pod, check out the "How Bout Them Celtics," "First to the Floor," and the many other New England sports podcasts available on the CLNS Media network:
Yahoo
27-04-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Kendrick Perkins' Comments Resurface During Celtics-Magic Series
Fans of the NBA can be unforgiving when it comes to holding analysts accountable for their takes, and Kendrick Perkins is once again finding out he's no exception. The Boston Celtics maintained home-court advantage in Game 2 of their first-round series, securing a 109-100 victory against the Orlando Magic on April 23, despite missing All-Star forward Jayson Tatum. Advertisement The defending champions had looked to carry that momentum heading into Game 3 on the Magic's home court at the Kia Center, with Tatum expected to return to action. Perkins, a Celtics homer after winning a championship with the team, made a bold declaration on Friday on the "NBA Countdown" show before Game 3 that the No. 2 seed in the Eastern Conference would make their presence felt against a less-talented Magic squad that is missing guard Jalen Suggs. Boston Celtics guard Jaylen Brown defends Orlando Magic forward Franz Wagner during Game 3 of the first round of the 2025 NBA Playoffs at Kia Watters 'They're gonna come in as the defending champs and they're gonna make the Magic fold like clean sheets,' Perkins said on the tip-off show on April 25. As expected, fans immediately responded on X with one account replying, 'Thinking the #Magic will fold tells me you have never watched this team. Orlando may not win. They have fatal flaws. But they don't quit.' Advertisement And they were right. Instead of a dominating performance from the Celtics as the ESPN analyst predicted, the Magic rebounded with a gutsy, hard-fought win in front of their home fans, securing a 95-93 victory in Game 3. Franz Wagner led the way for the Magic with 32 points, seven rebounds, and eight assists, along with some late-game shot-making. The Magic's other star, Paolo Banchero, also chipped in with a strong 29-point performance. Perkins, who is often wrong with his takes, had plenty of people on social media reminding him of his latest misstep. 'Lmao everything he said that was going to happen…didn't,' one person tweeted. Advertisement 'That aged well Perk,' another said. Perhaps the most profound statement reflecting the true feelings of Magic fans read, "Again the sports media at large are unable to talk about the Magic correctly." With momentum shifting back to the young Magic squad, they look to tie up the series at 2-2 at home in Game 4 this Sunday evening, relying on their two stars and No. 1 scoring defense. Related: Magic Send Three-Word Message After Upset Win vs. Celtics
BBC News
26-04-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
Magic survive to hit back against Celtics in play-offs
The Orlando Magic survived a Boston Celtics fightback to halve the deficit in their play-off series against the NBA levelled things up with two minutes 31 seconds remaining but consecutive scores by Franz Wagner secured a 95-93 home win on now trail 2-1 in the first round of the Eastern Conference play-offs. The best-of-seven series continues in Orlando on led for most of the way before they rallied from a 12-point deficit in the fourth quarter to make it then scored on consecutive drives over Kristaps Porzingis to finish with 32 points - his team's highest Tatum returned for the Celtics after missing game two with a sore right wrist and scored 21 points in the first half before finishing with a game-high 36. LeBron James continued his return to full fitness with a game-high 38 points but was unable to prevent the Los Angeles Lakers losing 116-104 at the Minnesota McDaniels scored 30 points and Anthony Edwards 29 as the Timberwolves finished strongly to take a 2-1 lead in the Western Conference first hosts went on a 13-1 run over the final four minutes 37 seconds after the score was tied by the Lakers' Luka Doncic, who registered 17 points despite playing with a stomach had 13-for-21 shooting, including three three-pointers in a four-possession span during the fourth quarter."He was shooting it from Yucatan," said Edwards. "He was shooting it crazy."Lakers coach JJ Redick added: "He's moving better. It seems like he's getting healthier by the day."Minnesota are again at home on Sunday, as are the Milwaukee Bucks after winning 117-101 over the visiting Indiana Pacers in the Eastern led by 12 early in the third quarter but Giannis Antetokounmpo and Gary Trent Jr each scored 37 points as the Bucks fought back to cut their series deficit to Jr started in place of Taurean Prince and restricted Pacers guard Tyrese Haliburton to 14 points while tying a franchise play-off record with nine three-pointers.
Yahoo
26-04-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Wagner and Banchero help Magic beat Celtics to cut Boston's lead to 2-1
Orlando Magic forward Franz Wagner (22) shoots against Boston Celtics center Al Horford (42) during the second half in game 3 of a first-round NBA playoff basketball series,, Friday, April 25, 2025, in Orlando, Fla. (AP Photo/John Raoux) ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) — Franz Wagner scored 32 points, Paolo Banchero added 29 and the Orlando Magic beat Boston 95-93 on Friday night to cut the Celtics' lead to 2-1 in the Eastern Conference first-round series. Jayson Tatum had 36 points and nine rebounds for the Celtics in his return to the starting lineup after missing Game 2 with a bruised wrist. Advertisement The defending NBA champions were 33-8 on the road this season but are now 0-3 in Orlando in 2024-25. The Magic host Game 4 on Sunday. Boston rallied after scoring just 11 points in the third quarter to tie it 91 on Derrick White's layup with 2:31 to play. Wagner answered with a layup, and after a miss by Tatum, followed with another basket for a 95-91 lead with 1:26 to play. White scored, and after Wagner missed a 3-pointer, the Celtics got the ball and inbounded with 0.3 seconds left but White's pass toward the basket was tapped away as time expired. Jaylen Brown had 19 points for the Celtics, who went 17 minutes without a 3-point basket in the second half. Advertisement BUCKS 117, PACERS 101 MILWAUKEE (AP) — Gary Trent Jr. tied a franchise playoff record with nine 3-pointers and scored 37 points, Giannis Antetokounmpo also had 37 and Milwaukee used a big second half to beat Indiana and cut the Pacers' series lead to 2-1. The Pacers led 57-47 at halftime, but Trent hit three 3-pointers early in the third to pull the Bucks even at 62. The Bucks grabbed a 72-69 lead on Antetokounmpo's three-point play and led 86-75 at the end of the quarter. The lead grew to as many as 20 in the fourth and Trent finished 9 for 12 behind the arc to tie Hall of Famer Ray Allen's mark for most 3-pointers in a postseason game. Advertisement Antetokounmpo added 12 rebounds for Milwaukee, which hosts Game 4 on Sunday. A.J. Green scored 12 points and Bobby Portis had 10 for the Bucks, who took on the Pacers for the 18th time in the past two seasons. Indiana had won five of the last six playoff games between the teams and ousted the Bucks from the playoffs in the opening round last season. Pascal Siakam had 28 points and Aaron Nesmith scored 18 for the Pacers. Tyrese Haliburton finished with 14 points and 10 assists. TIMBERWOLVES 116, LAKERS 104 MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Jaden McDaniels scored a career playoff-high 30 points and spearheaded Minnesota's stifling defense on an ailing Luka Doncic, and the Timberwolves beat Los Angeles to take a 2-1 lead in their first-round series on Friday night. Advertisement Anthony Edwards scored 29 points and Julius Randle added 22 points for the Wolves, who outscored the Lakers 13-1 over the final 4:37 of the game after Doncic's tying baseline jumper. LeBron James did the heavy lifting with Doncic playing through a stomach illness, scoring 38 points including three 3-pointers in a four-possession span midway through the fourth quarter. But he couldn't find a shot after that, hitting the side of the backboard with a corner heave with the Lakers down 111-104 with 1:26 left.
